Closure for containers or receptacles for materials in a liquid or paste-like state



W32 c. AFARICIO Y ELiZALDE 198669635 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS QR RECEPTACLES FOR MATERIALS IN A LIQUID OR PASTE LIKE STATE Filed NOV. 4, 1930 Fig.5.

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES RATE- Mr;oFF ICE CARLOS ArAnIcIo Y ELIZALDE, or. ENGRnoIaivmnnIn, S I?AIN CLOSURE ,ron oonmmnnson nncnrrncrnsronfmnrnnms ru -1A1 LIQUID on PASTE-LIKE'STATE Application filed November 4, 1930, Serial No. 493,305, and in" Spain March 4, 19 30.

Thisinvention relates to closures for containers or receptacles for materials in a liquid 7 or paste-like state, and has for an object to provide an improved closure which shall be automatic in use in that pressure exerted by any means whatever on the contents of the container will result in the opening of the closure, through which the contents will flow so long as the pressure is maintained.

An automatic closure according to the invention ofiers the following advantages.

' In the use that may be made of the improved closure in connection with tooth-paste tubes and other skin-cream tubes, it presents the following advantages: 7

1st. It prevents the drying of the paste due to the tube not being closed properly; this operation often being troublesome 2nd. It avoids this trouble, as well as loss of time, soiling of fingers, difliculty of operation, and so forth; I g

3rd. The operation of drawing the paste out of the tube is much easier, a light pressure only need be applied with one hand, leaving the other free to hold the tooth-brush or other medium to which the contents are to be aplied. P The closure can also be applied to tubes containing pigments or paints in a pasty state, which, as they harden rapidly on exposure to air. must be kept perfectly enclosed. This end can be attained easily by means of the closure.

According to the present invention, the closing of a container for materials in a liquid or paste-like state is eliectedby an.

elastic element which, whenatrest, maintains the outlet of the container closed, and which. as a result of pressure exerted on the contents of the container, is forced clear of said outlet to permit the container to be emptied.-

Preferably, the arrangement is such that 7 upon the release of the pressure on, the contents of the container, the elasticelement'reassumes its state. of rest by virtue of its elasticity, and thus closes the outlet.

In order that the invention may more easily be understood, several closures in accordance therewith are illustrated by the accompanying drawing, by way of example.

serving to hold the same'in place, and to'prevent material from the container flowing into pressure'on the container is relieved,where opening d. in the side wall thereof. The

opening d is locatedabove the top of the container mouth'u and provides for. ejection of the contents ofthe container. aAn elastic .valve member- 6 in the .form of a cupof rubber orfsimilar material having inherent elasticity is located within and substantially fills the y cap a. A spring 6 presses the rim of the valve member?) against the wallof the cap 0,

the 'cu'psha-ped' valve member."

In F igureII the valve member 6 shown in Figure I is replaced by a valve member a comprising a closed capsule of rubber or similar material, the capsule a fitting snugly within the cap 0. In this ,form of the invention, the elasticity of the valve member is derived in part from the air within the same.

In either form of the invention, the valve member of the closure normally presses down upon the mouth u of the container and effectively seals the same to prevent flow therefrom through the opening d in the side wall of the cap 0. When it is desired to eject ma terial from the container, pressure is applied to the sides thereof, as in the conventional manner of using a tube of. paste The pressure thus applied forces the paste or-other plastic or fluid" material through the'mouth ucornpressing theelastic valve member within the cap 0 and occasioning a flow of material through the opening d( When the desired quantity of' paste hasbeen ejected,-the

upon the inherentelasticity of the valve membercauses the same to resume its normal po-- sition, closing the mouth a and the opening (Z.

1." Adevice'for closing receptacles contain 1 I ing fluid or plastic material and having an exit opening at one end thereof, which comprises a hollow cap fixedly mounted on said receptacle over said exit opening therein, an opening in the side wall of said cap, and a unitary, rubber valve member having compressible sidewalls and 'a' bottom normally ressin downwardl a ainst said exit 0 en- A y c ing, said valve member being compressible within said cap to'permit-t-he flow of material through saidexit opening from said recepta- I dee en the application otpressure to the said material therewithin, the inherent'e'la's ticity ofsaid valve member beingv sufficientto a automatically re-position it against said exit opening and thereby close the same upon relieving the pressure upon the said material.

- 2. A device for closing receptacles contain ing fiuid'or plastic material and having an exit opening at one end thereoflwhich c'omprises a hollow cap fixedly'mounted on said receptacle over said exit opening therein, an opening in the side Wall of said cap, and a unitary rubber valve member comprising a hollow closed capsule having compressible side wallsand a bottom normally pressing downwardly against saidexit opening, said valve member being compressible Within said cap to permit the flow of material through said exit opening from, said receptacle upon 'the application of pressure to the saidmaterial therewithin the inherent elasticity of said valve member being sufficient to automaticallyre-positionit against sa-idexit opening and thereby close the same upon relieving the'pressure upon the said material:

CARLOS APARIGIO Y'ELIZALDE. 1 

